Government should do more to empower the youths
The United Nations has picked as its theme for the 2026 International Youth Day being observed today, ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.’ With a focus on global solidarity, it is disappointing that there are no government activities around such agenda in Nigeria. Yet, according to the UN population prediction, by the year 2050, three of the 10 most populous countries in the world will be in Africa with more than a quarter of them in Nigeria. Against the background that population growth is already stretching the few infrastructure facilities in the country and contributing in large measure to the poor standards of living, there can be no better time than now to reflect on the plight of our young people.
For decades, the nation has been unable to provide sufficient jobs for its growing population. As a result, millions of young Nigerians are consistently exposed to large scale economic hardship and poverty. In choosing the theme for this year, the UN states that wherever they may be across the world, young people face common pressures, including limited access to quality education, barriers to decent work, unequal digital connectivity, climate change, social exclusion, and concerns about their mental well-being. “Yet young people in these countries are also leading innovative solutions through entrepreneurship, digital technologies, community action, climate adaptation, and social innovation,” the UN stated. “By investing in youth everywhere and supporting those facing the greatest barriers, the international community can help ensure that no young person is left behind.”
That Nigeria is not investing in its young people can be glimpsed from the growing numbers of out-of-school children and unemployed graduates. The poor output in the education sector also contributes to deepening the challenge of unemployment as the nation continues to churn out a crop of uncompetitive youth in a world driven by technology. Unfortunately, this crisis of unemployment has led to the creation of bubble jobs as political office holders appoint thousands of assistants with no job schedules. In July 2021, the Bank published a very instructive report, ‘Of Roads Less Travelled: Assessing the Potential for Migration to Provide Overseas Jobs for Nigeria’s Youth’. The report particularly raised the alarm over the nation’s expanding working-age population combined with scarce domestic employment opportunities amid dwindling resources. A combination of rising unemployment, booming demography, and unfulfilled aspirations, according to the World Bank, result in increasing pressure on young Nigerians to migrate in search of gainful employment overseas.
President Bola Tinubu has blamed the high unemployment rate in the country on a rapidly growing population that has outpaced the creation of job opportunities. “Nigerians are not lazy; the problem has been a lack of job opportunities. As the population grew, service providers did not expand proportionately,” said the president last year while arguing that the solution lies in aiding small businesses. “People should have been incentivised to establish small and medium enterprises instead of seeking opportunities abroad.”
While we hope the federal government and authorities in the 36 states will work together to address the crisis of unemployment among our young citizens, Nigeria also has a lot to worry about concerning a population that continues to bulge exponentially. A population growth that is not matched with commensurate socio-economic development can only breed chaos. A sustainable society is one with a population growth that enables its members to achieve a high quality of life in ways that are ecologically sustainable. On a day such as this, therefore, we call on the government to design appropriate policies that will improve the productive capacities of our young people.